Who Is Martin Amis? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Martin Amis was born on August 25, 1949, and passed away in 2023 at the age of 73. Known for his sharp wit and satirical writing style, Amis made significant contributions to contemporary literature. His works, including Money, London Fields, and The Information, established him as one of the leading novelists of his generation. His literary career spanned over four decades, during which he became recognized not just for his novels but also for his essays and criticism.
| Occupation | Autobiographer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 25, 1949 |
| Age | 73 Years |
| Birth Place | Oxford, England |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | England |
| Date of death | 19 May, 2023 |
| Died Place | Lake Worth Beach, Florida, US |
Popularity
Martin Amis's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Though specific details regarding Martin Amis's physical attributes are not extensively documented, he was often noted for his distinctive appearance. In the context of 2025, the focus largely remains on his intellectual legacy rather than his physical stature.
In 2003, Amis published Yellow Dog, his first novel in six years. The book received mixed reviews, with some critics proclaiming the novel a return to form, but its reception was mostly negative. The novelist Tibor Fischer denounced it: "Yellow Dog isn't bad as in not very good or slightly disappointing. It's not-knowing-where-to-look bad.
I was reading my copy on the Tube and I was terrified someone would look over my shoulder ... It's like your favourite uncle being caught in a school playground, masturbating." Amis was unrepentant about the novel and its reaction, calling Yellow Dog "among my best three".
He gave his own explanation for the novel's critical failure: "No one wants to read a difficult literary novel or deal with a prose style which reminds them how thick they are.
There's a push towards egalitarianism, making writing more chummy and interactive, instead of a higher voice, and that's what I go to literature for." Yellow Dog "controversially made the 13-book longlist for the 2003 Booker Prize, despite some scathing reviews", but failed to win the award.
Following the harsh reviews afforded to Yellow Dog, Amis relocated from London to the beach resort of José Ignacio, Uruguay, with his family for two years, during which time he worked on his next novel away from the glare and pressures of the London literary scene.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Martin Amis had a complex family life, having been married twice. He was married to his first wife, Isabel Fonseca, with whom he shared two children, and he later had a daughter with his second wife, the writer and editor, Gabriela Peyre. Amis's relationships often mirrored the themes of complexity and human emotion found in his literary work. His dating history has been of interest to fans and critics alike, often reflecting his tumultuous yet passionate nature.
Amis's work centres on the excesses of late capitalist Western society, whose perceived absurdity he often satirised through grotesque caricature.
He was portrayed by some literary critics as a master of what The New York Times called "the new unpleasantness.” He was inspired by Saul Bellow and Vladimir Nabokov, as well as by his father Kingsley Amis. Amis influenced many British novelists of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, including Will Self and Zadie Smith.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death in 2023, Martin Amis's net worth was estimated to be around $10 million. This wealth stemmed from his successful writing career, which included numerous bestsellers and significant earnings through book sales and royalties. His works continue to be studied and sold, contributing to his enduring financial legacy.
Of his position, Amis said: "I may be acerbic in how I write but ... I would find it very difficult to say cruel things to [students] in such a vulnerable position.
I imagine I'll be surprisingly sweet and gentle with them." He predicted that the experience might inspire him to write a new book, while adding sardonically: "A campus novel written by an elderly novelist, that's what the world wants." It was revealed that the salary paid to Amis by the university was £80,000 a year in return for 28 contracted ho
urs.
The Manchester Evening News broke the story saying that according to his contract Amis was paid £3,000 an hour for 28 contracted hours a year teaching. The claim was echoed in headlines in several national papers.
Career, Business and Investments
Amis's career was a testament to his talent and versatility as a writer. He penned many acclaimed novels and essays, securing his place in the literary canon. In addition to fiction, he engaged in various forms of writing, including non-fiction and journalism. Beyond literature, Amis was known for his appearances in documentaries and literary festivals, further expanding his reach within the cultural community.
Moreover, he engaged in investments associated with literary projects, contributing to various publishing endeavors that supported emerging writers and reinforced his commitment to the arts.
After graduating from Oxford in 1971, Amis wrote reviews of science-fiction novels under the nom de plume "Henry Tilney" (a nod to Austen) in a column for The Observer. He found an entry-level job at The Times Literary Supplement by the summer of 1972.
At the age of 27, he became literary editor of the New Statesman, where he cited writer and editor John Gross as his role model, and met Christopher Hitchens, then a feature writer for The Observer, who remained Amis's closest friend until his death in 2011.
Social Network
Though Martin Amis was a figure of acclaim, he wasn't predominantly active on social media platforms like Instagram or Twitter during his lifetime. Instead, he preferred traditional forms of literary engagement. However, his legacy continues to be celebrated on various social platforms, where fans share quotes and reflections on his impact on literature.
Dead Babies (1975), more flippant in tone, chronicles a few days in the lives of some friends who convene in a country house to take drugs.
A number of Amis's writerly characteristics show up here for the first time: mordant black humour, obsession with the zeitgeist, authorial intervention, a character subjected to sadistically humorous misfortunes and humiliations, and a defiant casualness ("my attitude has been, I don't know much about science, but I know what I like").
A film adaptation was made in 2000, which Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw described as "boring, embarrassing, nasty and stupid – and not in a good way".
Education
Educated at the University of Cambridge, Martin Amis studied English literature, an experience that undoubtedly influenced his profound understanding of narrative and language. His education shaped his views and writing style, setting the foundation for a prolific career.
Sir Martin Louis Amis (25 August 1949 – 19 May 2023) was an English novelist, essayist, memoirist, screenwriter and critic. He is best known for his novels Money (1984) and London Fields (1989).
He received the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his memoir Experience and was twice listed for the Booker Prize (shortlisted in 1991 for Time's Arrow and longlisted in 2003 for Yellow Dog). Amis was a professor of creative writing at the University of Manchester's Centre for New Writing from 2007 until 2011.
In 2008, The Times named him one of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945.
